Capillary spring-oiler.



G. W. HALL. CAPILLARY srsms 01m. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I917-Patented 12, 1918.

M m M 680736 Moe/Q25 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. HALL, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIAN ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF r0 CHARLESs. BAUH, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CAPILLARY SPRING-OILER.

Application filed July 26, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE lV. HALL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county ofMarion, and otate of Indiana, have invented a certain new and usefulCapillary Spring- Oiler; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in capillary springoilers and is adapted primarily for use in connection with leaf springsfor properly lubricating between the leaves of the spring, and my objectis to provide a tubular construction, preferably attached to the springin pairs.

A further object is to provide an absorbent material for the interior ofthe tubular member for gradually feeding the oil on to the spring.

A further object is to provide a wick through which lubricant will befed to the absorbent material by capillary attraction.

A further object is to provide a well at the lower end of each tubularmember for containing a supply of lubricant.

A further object is to provide a slot in the wall of the casing throughwhich the lubricant is fed on to the spring.

A further object is to provide means for attaching the tubular membersto the spring.

Further objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and moreparticularly pointed out in the accompanying specification.

The full nature of the invention will be understood fromthe'accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a spring showing myimproved oiler attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transversevertical sectional view through the spring showing one of the tubularmembers in section. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of the springshowing one of the tubular members in transverse section. Fig. 4 is anelevation of one of the tubular members removed from the spring.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a spring which may be constructed in anypreferred manner, in this instance, an elliptical spring, such as isused in. connection with automo- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 182,914.

biles and similar vehicles, said spring being built up of leaf sections2. In order to properly lubricate the springs to keep the same fromemitting a creaking sound and also to prevent the leaves from becomingrusted, I provide my improved form of oiling device comprising elongatedtubular members 3 which are preferably mounted in pairs, one on eachside of the spring section, although it will be clearly understood thatsaid members may be mounted singly if so desired.

The upper ends of the tubular members .3 are preferably provided with acap l, which is threaded on to the tubular member, while the lower endsof the tubular members have threaded thereon, cups 5, which preferablyextend a distance below the lower ends of the tubular members to formwells or resel' voirs for containing a quantity of the lubrigant at thelower ends of the tubular memers.

The faces of the tubular members resting against the leaves of thespring, are provided with elongated slots 6, through which the lubricantmay pass into engagement with the spring and in order to cause thelubricant to feed slowly and gradually on to the spring, a strip of felt7, or other similar absorbent material, is introduced into each tubularmember either in a single section or substantially in the form of aroll, a portion of the felt projecting through the slot 6 so as to restagainst the edge face of the spring. Extending vertically between thefolds of the strip of felt 7, is a wick 8 of the ordinary construction,said wick extending the full length of the tubular member so that as thelubricant is absorbed by the felt and dispensed through the slot 6 on tothe spring, the wick, through capillary attraction, will continuallyfeed the lubricant to the strip of felt throughout its length so long asany of the lubricant remains within the tubular member and well.

Any suitable means may be employed for attaching the tubular members tothe spring, but in this instance, a pair of rods 9 are employed, oneabove and one below the sections of the spring, said rods extendingthrough bores 10 in the tubular members 3, one end of each rod beingthreaded to receive nuts 11 which are normally held against reverserotation by lock washers 12.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

tubular members may be positioned at any suitable point along the lengthof the spring sections as the lubricant will feed lengthwise of theleaves of the spring owing to the vibrating movement thereof. It willlikewise be seen that the parts of the oiling device are practicallyindestructible from use and owing to the slowness at which the lubricantis fed from the oiling device, one fillin of the tubular members willsufiice for a ong period of time, thereby requiring very littleattention. I

It will likewise be seen that instead of forming the shield into a rolland inserting a wick therethrough the strip of felt may be of athickness to closely fill the interior of the tubular member whencompressed and naturally a portion of the felt will protrude through theslot in the tubular member. When this form of felt is used, the wick isdispensed with.

It will likewise be seen that thewell or reservoir at the lower end ofthe tubular .member may be formed integral with the the spring, andmeans to attach the tubular member to the spring.

2. An oiling device for springs, comprising a tubular member having anelongated slot therein, means to close the ends of said tubular member,an absorbent fabric extending longitudinally of the tubular member, anda wick engaging the fabric and extending longitudinally thereof forretaining the fabric saturated with lubricant throughout the length ofthe tubular member.

3. An oiling device for springs, comprising a tubular member having anelongated slot therein, a cup at the lower end of the tubular member,said cup forming a well below said slot, an absorbent fabric extendinglongitudinally of the tubular member and adapted to dispense lubricantthrough the slot on to a spring, and means incased by the fabric throughwhich lubricant may pass from end to end of the fabric by capillaryattraction. r

4. An oiling device for springs, comprising a hollow member having as1ot,'means to close the ends of the hollow member, a fabric around thewalls of the hollow member, and means'incased by the fabric forconveying lubricant from end to end of the fabric by capillaryattraction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE W. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

